Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1887-02-24
City and County.
Mrs. Stevens Lecture.

which the people of Ellsworth have had an
opportunity to listen to for long while
was that delivered at the Methodist church
last Thursday evening by Mrs. L. NJ n Ste
vens, State President of the W. c. T. L.
of Maine. 1t was simply repete with
great truths.
Below we give brief and hasty outline
of her excellent address: | am always
happy to speak under the auspices of To-
cal society like this; and vet always
speak with humility. | love the Woman's
Christian Temperance Union and the no
BILE work in which it is engaged. But | do
not forget the equally good and noble work
OF the other temperance organizations,
such as the Sons of Temperance the Good
Templars and the Reform Clubs The
subject, however, which | wish to present
this evening is The Rise, Progress and
Hope of the W. c. T L" of the work of
this society there are thirty-eight different
departments. OF these can present in a
single lecture only very few In some
respects the W. c. I. L. is peculiar or
ganization: IL welcomes to its ranks pco-
pie of all religious beliefs In its legiti-
mate work there may be found toiling to-
gether, shoulder to shoulder. or even
knceling together i'll prayer to God. the
Methodist and the Unitarian the Baptist
and the Universalist, the Orthodox and
the Quaker the Presbyterian and the Sis
ter of Charity counting her beads, thus
breaking down the barriers which have eN-
listed among Christian denominations
The White Ribbon Army in the prosecu-
ton and extension of its work has broken
down the barriers which existed between
the North and South, by showing them
the necessity of working together to cX-
terminate the great evil of intempcrance
and promoting the great virtue of temper
ance. 1t has also done much for the for
eign element in our population by teach
ing them the laws of temperate living.
This Union gives much attention to an
investigation of the laws of hereditary.
making an especial study of them for the
good of the temperance cause and the
world Another Of our departments is the
educational department in which We are
most deeply Interested The right cduca-
ton of the children is most important
work which we are doing through the in
strumentality Of Bands of Hope and other
juvenile organizations. right instruction in
the Sunday schools and scientific nstruc-
ton in temperance in the public schools.
In this country to-day 1000 600 of chill
dren are being taught lessons of temper
ancc in the public schools. Maine i one
Of the twcnty-tlrce States which are get
ting the benefit of this Kind Of instruction.
This is very hopeful feature of the work
for there is no denying the fact that f,I7aq-
tion Is ever better than returmdtjnn. Care
for the children. Look well To- il that the
lighthouses are st along the shore To Keep
the children from >tranding among the
breakers of intcmpcrauCc. \ work such
a. this can be done with much better re
suits than that II irving to rescue the chill
drcn in life-hoat> after they have been
morally >hipwrccked The press j. doing
much to help along the temperance work.
Three thousand Journals out OF 5000 ar,
espousing the cause for which this Union
is lahoring. In many column is set apart
for temperance | took up a paper to-day-
one which has recently been started uni
far from here meaning evidently the Bar
liarbor R,corIj in which | found long
and excellent article in the interests of
temperance. In fact the press All over the
country is giving u a welcome,
Another department OF our work j. the re-
lation Of intcmpcrancc to capital and labor.
and another the Jail and prisons We c>pcci- .
ally wish 10 do something for the criminal .
portion of our own sex. Il Il a lamouta-
bic fact that people are more charitable to
the vices Of men than to those ~ women.
even women themselves cNcusiug vices III /
men which they would strongly condemn /
in women. This j. wrong The same
code Of morals should apply With equal /
force to both sexes.
Another phase of our work i social pur- [
ity in connection with the White Gross. |
hope Ellsworth before long viii have a I
White Cross Army in connection with the 7
churches We have been before the Maine
Legislature asking for legislation for the
better protection Of girls. and am proud /
to say that Maine i likely To have i better F..
law for such protection than any other
State in the Uuion
Another important phase Of our work i
the department Of Young Wolncu'> work. I
Let the young women in their intercourse
with the young gentlemen demand honor
for honor. virtue for virtue, total ab>ti-
hence for total abstinence, and they Will
do much for temperance and morality. The
speaker also made reference to the How
er mission" department reforinatory pr--
ons for women, the legal phase Of the
question, beer at Togus and other inPur-
tant matters. She spoke with much effect
holding the closest attention Of her aud
ipurc flrDUohOut